Download and Install Android 14 Custom ROMs on Pixel 8/8 Pro

Sadique Hassan•Updated Apr 16, 2024

From this guide, you can download and install various Android 14 custom ROMs for your Pixel 8/Pro. While Pixel devices have carved out a name for themselves in custom development with support for tons of mods and tweaks, however, if you step into its custom ROM domain, you might end up in a barren land with drought all around. But why is that the case? Well, it’s just because Pixel itself offers the best-in-class stock UI experience that any OEM has in store.

However, if you are looking to get your hands on the customization front, then you might have to return disappointed. Don’t get us wrong, Google is rapidly adding tons of intriguing features, but it still has a long way to go. While you do have the option to root your device and welcome abode tweaks like AOSP Mods, however, this will then lead to Play Integrity issues.

Henceforth, your best bet is to try out the AOSP ROM which maintains a perfect equilibrium between the overall features and device stability. Likewise, these ROMs are usually fast, snappy, and performance-enhanced as well. So without any further ado, let’s make you aware of the steps to flash these Android 14 custom ROMs onto your Pixel 8 and 8 Pro.

Table of Contents

Download and Install Android 14 Custom ROMs on Pixel 8/8 Pro

Before starting, please take a complete device backup beforehand. Droidwin and its members wouldn’t be held responsible in case of a thermonuclear war, your alarm doesn’t wake you up, or if anything happens to your device and data by performing the below steps.

STEP 1: Install Android SDK

First and foremost, you will have to install the Android SDK Platform Tools on your PC. This is the official ADB and Fastboot binary provided by Google and is the only recommended one. So download it and then extract it to any convenient location on your PC. Doing so will give you the platform-tools folder, which will be used throughout this guide.

STEP 2: Enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking

Next up, you will also have to enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking on your device. The former will make your device recognizable by the PC in ADB mode. This will then allow you to boot your device to Fastboot Mode. On the other hand, OEM Unlocking is required to carry out the bootloader unlocking.

So head over to Settings > About Phone > Tap on Build Number 7 times > Go back to Settings > System > Developer Options > Enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking.

STEP 3: Unlock Bootloader on Pixel 8 Pro

Next up, you will also have to unlock the device’s bootloader. Do keep in mind that doing so will wipe off all the data from your device and could nullify its warranty as well. So if that’s all well and good, then please refer to our detailed guide on How to Unlock the Bootloader on Pixel 8/Pro

STEP 4: Download Android 14 ROMs for Pixel 8/Pro

Grab hold of the Android 14 ROMs and their associated files from the below link:

Evolution X: Pixel 8 | Pixel 8 Pro 
crDroid: Pixel 8 | Pixel 8 Pro
SigmaDroid: Pixel 8 | Pixel 8 Pro
RedBird: Pixel 8 | Pixel 8 Pro

Rename the ROM file to rom.zip and transfer all the files to the platform-tools folder.

STEP 5: Boot Pixel 8 Pro Fastboot Mode

Now connect your device to the PC via a USB cable. Make sure USB Debugging is enabled.
Then head over to the platform-tools folder, type in CMD in the address bar, and hit Enter. This will launch the Command Prompt.
Type in the following command in the CMD window to boot your device to Fastboot Mode
```
adb reboot bootloader
```
To verify the Fastboot connection, type in the below command and you should get back the device ID.
```
fastboot devices
```
If you are not getting any serial ID, then please install the Fastboot Drivers.

Flash SigmaDroid on Pixel 8/Pro

Flash the vendor_boot to its partition via the below command:
```
fastboot flash vendor_boot vendor_boot.img
```
Once done, reboot your device to SigmaDroid Recovery via the below command:
```
fastboot reboot recovery
```
From there, select Factory Reset/Format Data and do a reset.
Once done. select “Apply Update” > “Apply from ADB”.
Now type in the below command in the CMD window to start the sideload:
```
adb sideload rom.zip
```
Once done, it will now ask if you want to flash additional files. If you want, then tap YES.
Your device will reboot to Recovery. You may now sideload the desired files.
On the other hand, if you don’t want to flash any other files, then tap on No. You’ll be taken to recovery.
Irrespective of whether you flashed any file or not, go to Factory Reset/Format Data and do a reset again.
Finally, select Reboot System Now to boot to the newly flashed OS.

These were the steps to flash the SigmaDroid ROM Android 14 onto your Pixel 8 Pro. If you have any queries concerning the aforementioned steps, do let us know in the comments. We will get back to you with a solution at the earliest.

Install RedBird Android 14 ROM on Pixel 8 Pro

First off, do a format data via the below command
```
fastboot -w
```
Then flash the ROM file via the below command:
```
fastboot update rom.zip
```
Finally, use the below command to boot to the OS:
```
fastboot reboot
```

That’s it. These were the steps to flash the RedBird ROM Android 14 onto your Pixel 8 Pro. If you have any queries concerning the aforementioned steps, do let us know in the comments. We will get back to you with a solution at the earliest.

How to Install RedBird Android 14 “OTA” on Pixel 8 Pro

To begin with, checkmark the requirements listed in Steps 1 to 5.

Then download the OTA ZIP as well as the Images ZIP from below:

OTA ZIP: Pixel 8 Pro | Pixel 8
Images ZIP: Pixel 8 Pro | Pixel 8

Now extract the Images ZIP inside the platform-tools folder.
Likewise, transfer the OTA ZIP to the platform-tools folder as well.
Then type in the below command to boot your device to Fastboot Mode
```
adb reboot bootloader
```
Now type in the next four commands to flash the files to their partitions
```
fastboot flash boot boot.img 
fastboot flash dtbo dtbo.img
fastboot flash vendor_kernel_boot vendor_kernel_boot.img
fastboot flash vendor_boot vendor_boot.img
```
Once done, reboot your device to AOSP Recovery via the below command:
```
fastboot reboot recovery
```
Then select “Apply Update” > “Apply from ADB”.
Now in the CMD window, type in the below command to start the sideload:
```
adb sideload ota.zip
```
Once done, it will now ask if you want to flash additional files.
Whether you want to flash files or not, rebooting to recovery is compulsory for slot change, so select YES.
[Optional] Now, if you want to flash any files, then do the adb sideload filename.zip.
[Compulsory] Then select Factory Reset/Format Data and do a reset [See Note below]
Finally, select Reboot System to boot to the newly flashed OS.

NOTE: Some users were able to flash the OTA even without doing a factory reset, but to be on the safer side, we have performed a reset beforehand. if you want, you may take the risk of not doing a format and checking if it works out for you or not. If it doesn’t, then boot back to the AOSP Recovery and do a format data.

Install Evolution X Android 14 ROM on Pixel 8 Pro

To begin with, extract the recovery.zip to the platform-tools folder.
Then flash the four files that you have got via the below commands:
```
fastboot flash boot boot.img
fastboot flash dtbo dtbo.img
fastboot flash vendor_kernel_boot vendor_kernel_boot.img
fastboot flash vendor_boot vendor_boot.img
```
Once done, reboot your device to Evolution X Recovery via the below command:
```
fastboot reboot recovery
```
Then go to Advanced > Format data/factory reset > Factory Reset.
Once done, select “Apply Update” > “Apply from ADB”.
Now in the CMD window, type in the below command to start the sideload:
```
adb sideload rom.zip
```
Once done, if you want to install any additional files, then Reboot to Recovery and do the sideload of the desired files.
On the other hand, if you don’t want to flash any other files, then just select Reboot System to boot to Evolution X.

These were the steps to flash the Evolution X ROM Android 14 onto your Pixel 8 Pro. If you have any queries concerning the aforementioned steps, do let us know in the comments. We will get back to you with a solution at the earliest.

Install crDroid Android 14 on Pixel 8 Pro

Flash the vendor_boot to its partition via the below command:
```
fastboot flash vendor_boot vendor_boot.img
```
Once done, reboot your device to crDroid Recovery via the below command:
```
fastboot reboot recovery
```
Then select “Apply Update” > “Apply from ADB”.
Now in the CMD window, type in the below command to start the sideload:
```
adb sideload rom.zip
```
Once done, it will now ask if you want to flash additional files.
Whether you want to flash files or not, rebooting to recovery is compulsory for slot change, so select YES.
[Optional] Now, if you want to flash any files, then do the adb sideload filename.zip.
[Compulsory] Then select Factory Reset/Format Data and do a reset.
Finally, select Reboot System to boot to the newly flashed OS.
That’s it. These were the steps to flash the crDroid ROM Android 14 onto your Pixel 8 Pro.

Pass Play Integrity Test on Custom ROMs

Depending on the ROM that you have flashed, your Pixel 8 Pro might fail the Play Integrity Test thereby resulting in your inability to use the banking and payment apps. Fortunately, you can pass this test by carrying out the steps listed in the below guide: